Chapter 8
When I woke up, Silvi was already up, making coffee. In daylight, I could truly appreciate how big the house was. Silvi told me that it used to be the owner of the island's home, but after he died, he left it to his best friend, who started Ancients around it. The gothic architecture suited the dragon living in it. Silvi was quite adept at making coffee, as she made the coffee while barely looking at her hands. She spoke to me the whole time.
Within minutes we were seated at the table in the kitchen chatting cosily about our plans for the day. When we had both finished our drink, Silvi informed me that due to the house being built for one man and possibly a guest, there was only one working bathroom and she had first call on taking a shower.
She disappeared upstairs and I soon heard the shower running. I wandered around the house admiring all the stuff Silvi had in her place, she was a rather avid art fan, the walls were lined with prints of several famous artists, Starry Starry Night was hanging above the fireplace. Framed in such a way that it almost seemed to be a window into the world Van Gogh had seen.
There was a knock on the door and as I could still hear the water running, I went to open it.
Alleric greeted me with a warm smile and a slight bow.
"Good Morrow, friend. It bodes well that I find thee up at the early hours. Where for art the Lady Silvi? I come bearing gifts." He said as I invited him in. I offered him a seat, as he sat, he produced two neatly wrapped bundles. "I see thou art still wearing the garments of yesterday. I pray thou dost not findeth me abrasive, thine garments fits thine figure akin to a broken wheel fits a good carriage. Fae doth require little amounts of rest. After I left ere yestereve, I gathered my skills and spun thee more fitting garments." He pushed one bundle towards me, just as Silvi stepped into the room, still working a towel through her damp hair.
She was dressed plainly in a t-shirt and yoga pants. As she stepped into the room, Alleric jumped up and kissed her hand once again. It was a good thing she had a towel in her hand, she immediately shoved her face into it before Alleric could see the red spreading across her cheeks. I got up to give the two some privacy and started heading upstairs. "Please wash thineself before dressing, thou smelst of overworked leather," Alleric said over his shoulder as I left, I could've sworn he stuttered a bit.
I ran upstairs and walked into my room, on my bed, Silvi had placed a towel, soap, and other toiletries. I quickly took a shower; I couldn't remember how long it had been since I had taken a shower probably a good three or five days. In my room, I opened the parcel Alleric had given me. Inside were pure black combat boots. Black trousers with a grey button-up shirt and a black double-breasted waistcoat finished off with red lining. What freaked me out the most was the fact that everything fitted perfectly.
I walked out the door just as Silvi walked out of her room, she also got a new wardrobe. She was wearing a dark violet sleeveless dress that went down to the middle of her thighs, with tails descending to just below her knees. Without sleeves, her muscular arms were on show. The centre of the dress crossed over itself in a double-breasted coat style. The dress was open at the back to allow her wings freedom when need be. Underneath the dress, she was wearing black leggings. There were Celtic knot stripes down the sides of her leggings, each ending in a Celtic rose on her hips, the roses were on the lower part of her dress. She was wearing black combat boots as well. It was safe to say she looked absolutely beautiful and badass at the same time.
We walked down the stairs and Alleric was waiting for us. He was paging through a copy of a book with some kind of crystal on the front. I could see the author's name, but it was a rather strange name. I always enjoyed reading when I got the time but working in a millionaire's garden for minimum wage meant I sadly barely got time to read. Alleric jumped up as we came in, he gently put the book back in the meticulously arranged bookcase. "Truly Master John twas a wordsmith with few to boast against his talents. Twas a strange man, but a good friend." He said as he turned around. He seized me up appreciatively. "One of mine better creations I think." He said satisfactorily.
He turned towards Silvi and was completely dumbstruck, he gulped back words that wouldn't come, his pale cheeks turning a dark shade of red. Silvi was not blind to his stare, and she immediately stuffed her face behind her hands, not really managing to hide the small smile playing over her lips and the blush blooming across her cheeks. Before we could say anything to address the rapid silence that had descended on the room the door was almost knocked off its hinges by a riotous hammering at the door.
As Silvi and Alleric were still slightly staring at each other so I went and opened the door. Thrin was standing in the door, his arms already greasy and dirt-smudged across his face. "Aren't we looking nifty ey!" he beamed at me. "It's nine, if any of you still want breakfast, I suggest you get your arses moving!" Thrin's face fell when he saw Silvi.
"Ahh, so the Fae outfitted you both then ey. Mighty kind of him that. Fair skin not to be ungrateful but if you have some pretty buttons hidden somewhere for me, I suggest you keep it to yourself. I canty go walking around a forge in some prissy waistcoat, I'd likely tear off the buttons just stepping through the door.'
"Don't alarm thyself, lord among Dwarves. I figured thou mightest argue in such fashion. Therefore I did not weave thee garments, but arm cuffs for thine forge. Tis imbued by magic, it shall never tarnish nor wear thin. As long as thou art wearing them, thou shalst not be burned by even the brightest fire." Alleric said with a laugh as he produced two leather armbands. They were brown with silver filigree. It was rather plain, just a detailed insignia of two hammers crossing over a mountain. Thrin put them on, and I could've sworn I almost saw him cry. Not that any dwarf would ever admit to crying. Without a word, Thrin walked up to Alleric and hugged him. Thrin then turned around and walked towards the dining hall. Both Silvi and I were far too dumbfounded to ask any questions.
When we got to the dining hall, we were greeted by a loud chorus of oohs and aahs from the other Fae snickering to themselves. Other tables soon joined in. Silvi let loose a growl which made some of the cutlery quiver and the tables shake and everyone shut up. We got our food and headed to an empty table. As we sat down, I finally remembered; perfectly fitting clothes were actually rather strange, and I asked Alleric about it.
"Tis not unusual question, as Fae I hold command over certain magics. These magics as well as several hundred years of practice maketh weaving of garments relatively promptly and rather simple."
We had just started eating when Krill strolled up to our table and casually swiped Thrin's plate off the table. Thrin mouthed something under his breath but didn't say a word.
"Krill, what do you want?" I asked as Thrin got up to clean the mess and get more food.